Gustavus President Rebecca M. Bergman shares her thoughts with College employees each week.

Our core values become visible to others through our actions. We bring our values to life by describing them, talking about them, and modeling behaviors that demonstrate them in our daily work. Our shared values are much more than big banners in the cafeteria or words on our website. They are choices we make about how to treat each other, our students, alumni, and guests on our campus. Our core values guide our decisions, and they define who we are as an organization. Most of all, when we practice our values, we serve as positive role models for our colleagues and our students.

I invite you this week to think about our core value of Justice. How can we all put this value into action?

The concept of justice is actually quite simple. My dictionary defines justice as moral rightness, equity, honor, and fairness. How can we each contribute to creating a more equitable, respectful, and just society? We can start right here within the Gustavus community with practices that promote justice, such as these:

Treat people fairly and equally

Be respectful and practice good listening skills

Be willing to stand up for someone if they are being treated unfairly

The President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PCDEI) is working on a number of initiatives that build a culture of equity and inclusion. In the area of gender inclusion, you may recently have noticed people adding pronoun stickers to their name badges. This is a proactive way to demonstrate respect for how an individual wants to be addressed. As we continue to diversify our student body, we are also working to help all students feel welcome and prepared for success at Gustavus. You can assist these efforts by checking in with students who work in your department or who you meet in the course of your daily work. You might also get involved in the Diversity Center by holding office hours there or simply by stopping in to say hello.

All the small actions of justice can add up to make a big difference. So, let’s do it!

Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties.

With respect,

Becky

P.S. I hope you have all received your “Values in Action” bracelet by now. If not, please talk to your supervisor. I encourage you to wear it (when appropriate) as a symbol of our collective commitment to the Gustavus Core Values.